Oscar 2014 Shocker! ‘Alone Yet Not Alone’ Disqualified for Best Song

Though many of the 2014 OscarNominations seemed inevitable (we're looking at you, 'Gravity,' '12 Years a Slave' and 'American Hustle'), there were a number of surprises -- some pleasant, some less so. But perhaps the biggest "Huh?" was the best song nomination for 'Alone Yet Not Alone.' It turns out that the film violated campaigning rules, and has been disqualified.

Song composer/former nominee Bruce Broughton called members to make them aware of the film, which violates the Academy's rules of campaigning. What's odd about that is that Broughton is an academy member and former head of their music branch, and didn't realize he was violating the rules.

There are then two sides to this. One is that it proves that most Academy members have had their attention narrowed by the time they make nominations, and may not have bothered to listen to all the contenders. The other side is that it suggests the Academy is made up of insiders, and that word from one member to check out their work can lead to a nomination. Or perhaps it's that the song is just that good. Judge for yourself:

Here's the Academy's press release:

BEVERLY HILLS, CA — On Tuesday night, the Academy’s Board of Governors voted to rescind the Original Song nomination for “Alone Yet Not Alone,” music by Bruce Broughton and lyric by Dennis Spiegel. The decision was prompted by the discovery that Broughton, a former Governor and current Music Branch executive committee member, had emailed members of the branch to make them aware of his submission during the nominations voting period.

“No matter how well-intentioned the communication, using one’s position as a former governor and current executive committee member to personally promote one’s own Oscar submission creates the appearance of an unfair advantage,” said Cheryl Boone Isaacs, Academy President.

The Board determined that Broughton’s actions were inconsistent with the Academy’s promotional regulations, which provide, among other terms, that “it is the Academy’s goal to ensure that the Awards competition is conducted in a fair and ethical manner. If any campaign activity is determined by the Board of Governors to work in opposition to that goal, whether or not anticipated by these regulations, the Board of Governors may take any corrective actions or assess any penalties that in its discretion it deems necessary to protect the reputation and integrity of the awards process.”

An additional nominee in the Original Song category will not be named. The remaining nominees in the category are:

“Happy” from Despicable Me 2
Music and Lyric by Pharrell Williams

“Let It Go” from Frozen
Music and Lyric by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez

“The Moon Song” from Her
Music by Karen O; Lyric by Karen O and Spike Jonze

“Ordinary Love” from Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom

Music by Bono, The Edge, Adam Clayton, and Larry Mullen Jr.; Lyrics by Bono